Buhari to sign 2021 budget today –Presidency
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other top government officials expected at the signing
President Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari will today, Thursday, December 31, 2020, sign into law the 2021Appropriation Bill passed last week by the National Assembly.
A presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, confirmed this on Wednesday to Daily Trust.
Expected to attend the signing ceremony are Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila of the House of Representatives, principal officers of the National Assembly and chairmen of the appropriation committees of both chambers.
Members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) expected to grace the occasion include the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, and Director General, Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, among others.
The 2021 budget is expected to be presented to President Buhari for signing by Senator Babajide Omoworare, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on National Assembly (Senate) and Umar El Yakub, his counterpart in the House of Representatives.
However, in view of the ravaging COVID-19, the event may be conducted virtually.
On Monday, the Presidency confirmed the receipt of the 2021 appropriation bill from the National Assembly.
Analysts say the January-December budget cycle will be sustained with this development.
The National Assembly had, during an emergency session convened last week Monday, passed a N13.58 trillion budget for the 2021 fiscal year.
The budget was passed after the two chambers considered and adopted the reports of their committees on the 2021 Appropriation Bill.